Ohio Legislation & STRS Ohio
Ohio Revised Code
Ohio law consists of the Ohio Constitution, the Ohio Revised Code and the Ohio Administrative Code. The Constitution is the state's highest law superseding all others. The Revised Code is the codified law of the state while the Administrative Code is a compilation of administrative rules adopted by state agencies. Use the tools on this site to search or browse them all.
Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 3307: State Teachers Retirement System
Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC)
The general purpose of the Ohio Retirement Study Council is to provide legislative oversight as well as advise and inform the state legislature on all matters relating to the benefits, funding, investment, and administration of the five state retirement systems in Ohio.
Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC)
2026 Legislation
House Bill 719 (STRS Ohio Board Composition)
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Seeks to undo changes made during previous budget legislation that altered the makeup of the STRS Board and restricted elected teacher representation.
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Reverts the board composition back to its prior structure, restoring greater voting power and leadership opportunities to active and retired educator members.
House Bill 833 (Investment Options)
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Affects STRS Ohio alongside OPERS and SERS.
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Mandates that defined contribution (DC) plans operated by STRS offer one or more investment options providing lifetime income, such as annuities or pooled investment funds.
2025 Legislation
House Bill 96 (State Budget, STRS Ohio Board Composition )
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An amendment to State Budget Bill 96 altered requirements and eligibility rules for officer positions on the State Teachers Retirement Board.
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Included provisions to modify board composition by eliminating four of seven elected member seats and replacing them with government appointees.
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The board restructuring elements faced a lawsuit from OEA, OFT, and OH AAUP resulting in a temporary preliminary injunction halting implementation while the court reviewed the case.
2024 Legislation
House Bill 78 (State Teachers Retirement Board Elections, Membership)
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Modifies eligibility rules for the STRS Board, removing a long-standing restriction that prevented reemployed (retired) teachers from seeking election to certain board seats.
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Expands STRS membership definitions to include certain student teachers holding pre-service permits who are employed as substitute teachers
2022 Legislation
Senate Bill 280 & House Bill 562 (Mandates 2% COLA)
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Required the STRS Ohio board to annually grant a minimum 2% COLA beginning July 1, 2022, limiting the board's previous discretionary authority to reduce or suspend the adjustment.
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Included provisions to eliminate an upcoming minimum age requirement (age 60 with 35 years of service) set to take effect for unreduced retirement benefits.
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The bills underwent financial and actuarial review by the Ohio Legislative Service Commission in early 2022, but ultimately stalled and failed to pass out of committee during the legislative session.
2021 Legislation
House Bill 442 (School Nurses)
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Signed into law and effective in early 2021, this bill replaced specific Ohio Department of Education (ODE) licensing requirements for certain pupil services positions with a registration process.
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Critically, it impacted school nurse membership by defining rules for registered nurses (RNs) with bachelor's degrees contributing to STRS Ohio.
House Bill 6 (School Nurses)
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Signed by Gov. Mike DeWine on May 14, 2021, this follow-up act amended H.B. 442.
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It updated STRS Ohio membership eligibility rules to specify that a registered nurse with any bachelor's degree (rather than strictly a bachelor's degree in nursing) qualifies and must contribute as an STRS Ohio member.
2019 Legislation
House Bill 572 (Switching Plans)
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Clarified rights and privileges for members re-entering or switching into the STRS defined benefit plan from a defined contribution plan, granting them identical rights as continuous defined benefit members.
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Amended administrative definitions and processes regarding final average salaries, purchasing/restoring prior service credit, and disability benefit qualification terms.
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Updated statutory provisions outlining the State Teachers Retirement Board's authority to enter into group health, medical, and surgical insurance agreements for retired members and survivors.
2018 Legislation
House Bill 572 (Membership)
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Allowed an STRS member to continue working in an STRS-covered position after retiring from a higher-paying position covered by PERS or the School Employees Retirement System (SERS).
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Permitted an STRS member to remain in their STRS position after retiring under a PERS or SERS defined contribution plan.
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Addressed adjustments regarding sponsored dependents of retirees or disability benefit recipients under STRS health care policies.
2017 Legislation
House Bill 520 (Service Credit)
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Clarified rules for how the State Teachers Retirement Board calculates full-time and partial years of service credit for teachers in defined benefit and defined contribution plans.
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Established a standardized formula and caps for calculating the portion of employer contributions redirected to state retirement systems like STRS Ohio to offset financial impacts from alternative plans.
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Updated provisions allowing eligible system members to purchase service credit for specific leaves, absences, or prior school board service.
2016 Legislation
Senate Bill 42 (Purchasing Service Credit, Retire-Rehire)
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Standardized and updated how service credit, withdrawals, and accumulated contributions are handled and paid out for public employees who hold membership concurrently across multiple Ohio retirement systems (such as STRS, OPERS, and SERS).
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Clarified rules regarding the purchase of service credit for periods of self-exemption across state systems.
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Addressed rules regarding retired teachers returning to service, allowing certain volunteer activities within school districts during early retirement without automatically forfeiting monthly benefits under specific conditions.
House Bill 2 (Charter School Adjustments)
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Introduced specific legislative clarifications addressing whether school employees and teachers working at select charter schools operated by private management companies participate in STRS Ohio or SERS.
2013 Legislation
House Bill 488 (Membership)
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The act formally clarified STRS Ohio membership criteria for individuals performing state-funded auxiliary services for nonpublic school students.
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It updated core definitions under section 3307.01 of the Revised Code, specifying parameters for defined benefit and defined contribution plans managed by STRS Ohio.
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Reaffirmed the legal standing that the STRS Board maintains final determination authority in cases of doubt regarding membership eligibility.
2012 Legislation
Senate Bill 342 (Pension Reform)
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Increased age and service requirements for an unreduced full retirement benefit (phasing up to age 60 with 35 years of service, or age 65 with 5 years).
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Raised member contribution rates by 4%, phased in over time.
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Reduced the rate used to calculate benefits to 2.2% of the final average salary.
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Extended the calculation window to use a longer span of highest earnings years.
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Reduced the annual COLA for retirees from 3% down to 2%, with temporary suspensions on new increases.
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Granted the STRS Retirement Board discretionary authority to make future adjustments to contribution rates, retirement ages, and COLAs based on fund performance.